Colombia client counsel for US deals
When a Colombian business, investor, or entrepreneur pursues opportunities in the United States, the legal framework that governs the transaction, the entity, the intellectual property, the employment relationship, or the regulatory approval is US law — not Colombian law. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm with an international clientele, founded in 1997. Mr. Sris, the firm’s Owner and Founder, is a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He and his US-licensed Of Counsel handle the US-law side of cross-border deals for Colombian clients. Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel and Colombia-practice liaison (licensed in Colombia; not admitted in any US state bar; his role with the firm is limited to Colombian-law matters and client coordination), assists our Colombian clientele with navigating US legal processes. For a consultation on US legal counsel for a Colombian-connected business matter, reach the firm at (888) 437-7747.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a US deals attorney do for a Colombian client?
A US-licensed attorney drafts and negotiates the US-side contracts, structures the US entity, advises on US regulatory requirements, and ensures the transaction complies with US federal and state law. The Colombian client retains a Colombian-admitted attorney to handle Colombian-law components; Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. collaborates with Colombian-licensed counsel through its Of Counsel network so that both sides of the deal receive jurisdictionally appropriate legal work.
Does the firm provide Colombian law representation directly?
No. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. does not practice Colombian law. For matters requiring representation under Colombian law today, the client should engage an attorney admitted by the Consejo Superior de la Judicatura. If a future need arises, the firm will notify clients when Colombian-admitted Of Counsel are formally engaged. Until then, the firm’s US-admitted attorneys handle only the US-law aspects of cross-border matters.
How does FCPA compliance affect a Colombian company doing business in the United States?
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) applies to Colombian companies that issue securities in the United States, that are deemed “domestic concerns” under US law, or that take an act in furtherance of a corrupt payment while present in US territory. Even a Colombian firm with no US office can become subject to FCPA jurisdiction if its officers travel to the US or use US banks or communications to further a bribe. Our firm advises Colombian clients on building FCPA-compliant internal controls and conducting pre-transaction due diligence.
Can Colombian companies enforce contracts in US courts?
Yes, a Colombian company can enforce a contract in a US court if the contract contains a valid forum-selection clause or if the defendant has sufficient minimum contacts with the chosen US state. The company typically must retain US-licensed litigation counsel, and documents executed in Colombia may require an apostille under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention (Colombia is a contracting state) for authentication. Our firm handles US-side contract enforcement actions in Virginia, Maryland, DC, New Jersey, and New York.
What visa options are available for Colombian entrepreneurs to enter the US?
Colombian entrepreneurs often rely on the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, the L-1 intracompany transferee visa, or, in certain cases, the EB-5 immigrant investor program. The E-2 visa requires a substantial investment in a US enterprise and that the applicant is a national of a treaty country (Colombia has an E-2 treaty with the US). L-1 visas can bring managers or executives from a Colombian parent company to a US subsidiary. Our US-licensed immigration attorneys, with Mr. Sris as attorney of record, prepare the petitions; Eric Duport Jaramillo and Bibiana Moncada Aristizabal serve as liaisons, drawing on their Colombian bar admissions and institutional knowledge of Colombian business structures, while clear about the limitation of their licensure.
How does the Hague Apostille Convention help Colombian businesses authenticate documents for US use?
Colombia is a contracting state to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. A Colombian public document — such as a company charter, a power of attorney, or a court judgment — can be authenticated by an apostille issued by a designated Colombian competent authority, eliminating the need for consular legalization. Once apostilled, the document is recognized in US proceedings under the Convention’s framework. Our firm guides Colombian clients through the document-assembly and authentication process on the Colombian side through licensed Colombian counsel, while handling the US-side filing and evidentiary requirements.
Can a Colombian investor bring a lawsuit in the United States?
Yes, a Colombian investor may sue in US federal or state court if the court has personal jurisdiction over the defendant and subject-matter jurisdiction over the claim. The investor does not need to be a US resident or citizen. However, practical considerations such as travel, witness availability, and enforcement of a US judgment in Colombia (which requires domestic recognition proceedings in Colombia) shape the litigation strategy. Mr. Sris and the firm’s US-licensed litigation Of Counsel manage the US-side litigation; Colombian recognition of a resulting judgment is handled through separate Colombian counsel.
How does Mr. Sris’s firm coordinate with Colombian legal professionals?
The firm maintains a network of independent, Colombian-admitted Of Counsel who address Colombian-law questions, while Mr. Sris and the US-licensed team handle all US-law matters. Eric Duport Jaramillo (licensed in Colombia; not admitted in any US state bar) is the primary liaison for Colombian clientele and assists with client communication, documentation review under Colombian law, and coordination with other Colombian professionals. This structural separation ensures that no attorney practices in a jurisdiction where they are not licensed.
What is the role of Eric Duport Jaramillo in cross-border deals?
Eric Duport Jaramillo serves as Of Counsel and Colombia-practice liaison for Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is licensed to practice law in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar; his work for the firm is limited to Colombian-law analysis and client coordination. With a background as Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and as Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce, he brings substantial institutional and business experience to cross-border transactions. He does not represent clients in US courts or before US agencies.
How can I schedule a consultation for a US deal involving Colombian parties?
Contact our intake team at (888) 437-7747, email colombia@sriscounsel.com, or use the contact form on our website. Consultations are by appointment only. Our firm has a location in Pereira, Colombia (also by appointment) at Carrera 7 # 18-80, Oficina 606, Edificio Centro Financiero; for clients in Colombia, you may also call +57 63419197 or the Colombia toll-free line (888) 437-7747. Live chat assistance in Spanish and English is available during business hours.
About Mr. Sris and the SRIS Of Counsel Network
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. was founded in 1997 by Mr. Sris, a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris leads the firm’s cross-border US-deals practice, drawing on decades of experience structuring US transactions for international clients. The firm’s Of Counsel network includes Colombian-licensed attorneys Eric Duport Jaramillo and Bibiana A. Moncada Aristizabal, who serve as liaisons for Colombian clientele. Both are licensed in Colombia and are not admitted in any US state bar; their work with the firm is restricted to Colombian-law matters and client coordination. No attorney at the firm practices in a jurisdiction where they are not admitted.